Next year China is to have the honour of holding the Olympics. The international prestige granted to the nation lucky enough to act as host is eagerly sought after, and the competition between countries all looking to bring the Olympics home can reach almost comical proportions.
However, as journalists prepare to head east next year to cover the event, there has been cause for concern. China has a bleak reputation when it comes to freedom of the press, having a history of media censorship that few nations can match.
Media workers visiting the country can expect all manner of coercive measures from phone tapping to intimidation and arrest. Journalists are often branded with a special 'J' mark on their visas to advertise their occupation to authorities, with hotel managers instructed to contact local security if somebody with a dreaded 'J' mark checks in.
Recently however the government appeared to have a change of heart on its relationship to the media. In December 2006 the secretary-general of the Beijing Olympic Games Bid Committee, Weng Wei, promised to introduce temporary measures designed to give foreign journalists freedom of movement up to and during the Olympic proceedings.
Stating that they would have 'complete freedom to report when they come to China' this show of good faith went a long way with the International Olympic Committee, which ultimatly determind the outcome of their decision to permit the games to be hosted in Bejing.
Not to be caught out, Liu Jianchao — who is a spokesman for the foreign ministery — stated at a press conference that 'It is crystal clear that as long as the interviewee agrees, you can do your reporting'.
But since January several journalists have spoken out against continuing state censorship which, if the alleged 'temporary measures' are anything to go by, should not be taking place.
According to the international media pressure group 'Reporters Without Borders' (RWB) the Beijing Organising Committee has so far refused to take concrete steps to loosen up on censorship. Despite the earlier promise, there has been no policy enacted to provide adequate access for the many foreign journalists looking to enter the country next year.
Even worse, government bodies are remaining tight-lipped on the multitude of journalists within their own borders who remain subject to criminal penalty. One venerable writer, Zhang Jianhong, has been imprisoned for the writing of an article on China's human rights record and